Blocking mechanism for strip-mills.



A. SUNDH.

BLOCKING MECHANISM FOR STRIP mus.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29| 19l6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- A. SUNDH.

BLOCKING MECHANISM FOR STRIP MILLS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 290196 Patented June 26 2 SHEET Ho'uw 1 AUGUST SUNIDI-I, 0F HASTINGS-UPON-HUDSON, NEW YORK.

BLOCKING MECHANISM FOR STRIP-MILLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Application filed June 29, 1916. Serial No. 106,723.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, AUGUST SUNDH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hastings-upon-Hudson, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Blocking Mechanism for Strip-Mills, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic blocking mechanism for strip mills, and particularly to the construction of the block itself, or that part of the mechanism on which the strip is wound in the blocking operation.

Among the advantages of, this apparatus is that the strip coming from the rolling mill is guided to the block and attached thereto without the operator having to throw the strip around the block by hand as is the custom in present-day practice. This practice was a dangerous one and unsatisfactory in many ways. By my arrangement a much better blocking of the strip is obtained, as well as a much quicker one, which of course means a larger output of a mill, other things being equal; the sheet is gently attached to the block and uniformly, and there is no danger of'binding as in the old hand operation.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1, is a plan view showing the block, the rolls of the rolling mill, the guiding means for the strip and the motor for driving the blockyl -ig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the block; Fig, 3 is a section through the block showing astrip entering the block; and Fig. 4 is a view showing the mechanism for-holding the outside of the block at rest.

Referring to the drawings in detail,-the block is driven through a shaft 1 by means of an electric motor M shown geared to the shaft by a belt. Screwed on the inner end of the shaft 1 is a coupling member 2, this coupling carrying the slip rings for furnishing power to the several windings of the block referred to hereinafter. Another coupling member 3 is also screwed on the shaft 1, and fastened to the member 2 by bolts 4. A journal 5 is carried by the member 3. A cylindrical member 6 is mounted on the shaft 1, at its inner end abutting the outer end of the member 3, bein heldsecurely in place by means of a nut screwed on the outer end of the shaft 1. Within this cylinder 6 are three magnet windings 8, these magnet windings receiving current by means of conductors 19 connected to the slip rings already mentioned. I have shown three windings only, but it is to be understood, of course, that as many may be used as found desirable. The description so far relates to the inside of the block only. The' outer part of the block comprises a sectional cylindrical shell 10, here shown as being made in three sections hinged together at 11; one of the sections, 12, of

this shell is made of magnetizable material. One section of the shell is rigidly secured to the member 5, which as already pointed out is carried by the coupling member 3. I have shown this section screwed into the member 5, but it may be rigidly secured to it in any other suitable manner.

From Fig. 3 it will be seen that the shell of the block is so formed as to leave an opening 13, for the entry of the strip to the inside of the block, as the strip comes from the rolling mill. The section of the shell which is rigidly secured to the journal member 5 is slightly spaced from the inside cylindrical member 6. A spring 14 holds the other sections away from the surface of the member 6. It becomes necessary therefore to provide means to hold the shell in such a position that the opening or longitudinal slot 13 be held in position to receive the strip as it comes from the rolling mill. For this purpose I have provided a magnet 15, secured in position over the rear end of the block, and receiving current from the same source of supply as the windings of the block itself. A bell crank lever I6 forms a movable armature for the magnet 15, this armature being held away from the magnet when the latter is not energized, by means of a spring 17. The lower end of the lever 16 engages a depression 18 formed in the periphery of the member 5. This depression is provided in proper position on the member 5 so that when the lever 16 engages it the slot 13 will be in position to receive the stri coming through the guides from the mil. The motor M and the various windings for the block and magnet, receive their current from a main controlled by a main line switch S.

v The circuit to the motor is controlled by a hand switch 20, and the circuit to the windings of the block and of the magnet 15 are controlledby a switch H, here shown as a hand switch, but this switch may be controlled automatically by the strip itself, as shown in my co-pending application, Ser1al No. 3,255, filed January 20, 1915, for automatic blocking mechanism for strip mills; the current to the motor is sent through the conductors 21, and that for the windings of the block through the conductors 19, and through the magnet windings of the magnet 15 by conductors 22 which are tapped o the conductors 19. a

In operation, the motor M is first started up by throwing the switch 20; the shaft 1 and therefore the inside of the block then starts to rotate by reason of the connection of the motor M to the shaft 1, already described. As the strip from the rolling mill enters the opening 13 in the shell of the block, the switch H is thrown and current is sent through the windings 8 of the block,

and the winding of the magnet 15-, simultaneously. The magnet 15 will draw in 1ts armature, the lever 16, throwing the latter .out of engagement with the depression 18,

leaving the outer shell free to rotate. The windings 8 will attract the magnetizable section .12 of the shell and the same will clamp the strip firmly between itself and the inner cylindrical member 6 of the block. The whole block will then be set in motion and the strip be blocked or wound thereon.

It will be seen that the shell of the block is so formed that when the strip is clamped the periphery of the shell will be practically unbroken and truly round. This of course is desirable in order that the strip will not be marked by any unevenness in the periphery of the block. An important featureof this invention also is that the releasing means for the shell of the block and the clamping of the strip are controlled simultaneously. The advantage of this is obvious inasmuch as it is essential that the shell be held in position so that the strip may enter the block, but also that the shell of the block should be released immediately'after the strip is clamped.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact details. of construction herein described, as others skilled in the art might make various changes therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. v

What Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a stripcoming from a stripmill, the combination of a rotatable block, magnetizable material in said block, windings in said block to magnetize said magnetizable material, a sleeve surrounding said block and embodying magnetizable material, and a longitudinal slot in said sleeve for the strip to enter and be clamped between the block and said sleeve when the. block is magnetized.

2. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind astrip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block having'a magnetizable field, a magnetizable armature surrounding said field, and'af longitudinal opening in said armature "for the strip to enter when it comes from the strip mill.

3. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block having a magnetizable field, a magnetizable armature surrounding said field, a longitudinal opening in said armature for the strip to enter when it comes from the strip mill, and means to magnetize said, magnetizable field and attract the armature.

- 4:. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the

combination of a rotatable block having a magnetizable field, a sleeve surrounding said magnetizable field, and constituting an armature for said magnetizable field, and means to magnetize said field and attract said armature to clam the strip between said armature and said fie d.

magnetizable field, a winding for said field,-

a sectional sleeve encircling said magnetizable field, and means for exciting the wind-' ing and magnetizing the field to attract the sleeve.

7. In a blockingmechanism adapted to WlIld a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block having a magnetizable field, a winding for said field, a sleeve encircling said magnetizable field having a longitudinal opening for the strip to enter, and means for exciting the wind-' ing and magnetizing the field toattract the sleeve and clamp the strip to the block.

8. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable' block having, a magnetizable field and a winding for said field, a sectional sleeve with a' longitudinal openlng for the strip 'to enter encircling said magnetizable field and winding, and means'for exciting the winding. and magnetizing the fieldto attract'the sleeve and clamp the strip to the block.

9. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block embodying a magnetizable material and a winding,

adapted for the strip to enter, means to guide the strip from the strip mill to the block, and means to close a circuit to said Winding to magnetize the block, attract the sleeve and clamp the strip.

10. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block, a magnet in said block, a magnetizable sectional arma ture hinged together encircling said block, a longitudinal opening in said sectional hinged armature for the trip to enter, means to guide the strip from the strip mill to the block, and means to charge the magnet with electric current to attract hinged sections of the armature to clamp the strip.

11. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block embodyir g an electromagnet, a winding for said magnet, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve 'being shaped to conform with the circumference of the block and embodying magnetizable material, and having a longitudinal opening for the strip to enter, means to guide the strip from the strip mill to the block, and means to send an electric current through the magnet winding and thereby attract the sleeve and clamp the strip to the block as it, enters the block.

12. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block embodying a magnetizable field, a winding for said field, a sectional sleeve encircling said magnetizable field, means for charging the winding and magnetizing the field to attractthe sleeve, means to rotate the block, and means to hold the sleeve at rest until the winding for the field is energized.

13. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combinationof a rotatable magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve embodying magnetic material, means to rotate the block, and means to hold said sleeve at rest.

14. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block, a sectional sleeve embodying magnetizable material encircling said block, means to hold said sleeve at rest, and means to rotate the block.

15. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a'strip mill, the

combination of a rotatable magnetic block,

a winding for said block, a sleeve encircling said block and conforming with the circumference of the block, means to hold said sleeve at rest, means to rotate the block, means to energizethe winding and attract the sleeve to the block, and means to release the sleeve.

16; In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable magnetic block,

a sleeve encircling said block embodying magnetic material, means to hold said sleeve at rest, means to revolve the block, and means to cause the sleeve to revolve in unison With the block. I

17. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block, an armature for said'block' embodied in said sleeve, means to rotate the block, means to hold-the sleeve and armature at rest, means to release the sleeve, and an electromagnet for controlling said holding and releasing means.

18. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block, a sectional sleeve encircling said block, some of said sections consisting of magnetic material and other sections of non-magnetic material, means to rotate the block, a winding for said block, means to hold the sleeve at rest, and means to energize said winding and thereby attract the magnetizable sections of the sleeve by the magnetic lines generated in the block by the current flowing through the winding.

19. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block, a sectional sleeve encircling said block, some of said sections consisting of magnetic material and other sections of non-magnetic material, means to rotate the block, a winding for said block, means to hold the sleeve at rest, means to energize said winding and thereby attract the magnetizable sections of the sleeve by the magnetic lines generated in the block by the current flowing through the winding, and means to release the sleeve simultaneously with the energization of the winding.

20. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block, a sectional sleeve encircling said block, some of said sections consisting of magnetic material and other sections of non-magnetic material, means to rotate the block, a magnet in said block, a winding for said magnet, and means to energize said winding and thereby attract those sections of the sleeve consisting of magnetizable material.

21. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable magnetizable block, a sectional sleeve encircling said block, some of said hinged sections being yieldable and adapted to be attracted by the block and thereby clamp the strip coming from the strip mill to the block when said block becomes magnetized.

22. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable magnetic block, means to guide the strip from the mill rolls iii;

'to the block, a sleeve encircling said block and embodying magnetic material, means to hold said sleeve at rest, means to magnetize the block and release the sleeve simultaneously, and thereby attach the strip to the block when the strip has reached the block.

23. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable block embodying magnetic material and a winding, means to rotate said block, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve being expanded and held from engagement with the block, allowing the block to be rotated, means to'hold said sleeve at rest, and means to energize the winding to attract the expanded sleeve, release the holding means and to cause the sleeve to rotate with the block.

24. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from astrip mill, the combination of a rotatable magnetizable block comprising a plurality of magnetizable fields, a plurality of windings for energizing said fields, an armatureadapted to be controlled by said fields, said armature conforming with. the circumference of the block and yieldably adapted to be attracted'toward the axis of the block, a longitudinal opening in said armature for the strip to enter, and means to energize the winding and thereby attract the armature to clamp the strip after it has entered said longitudinal opening.

25. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the

combination of a magnetic block and an armature therefor comprising a casing supported by a journal running on the same axis as the block.

26. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, an .armature for said block comprising a cylin rical casing, and means tosnpport said armature comprising a journaled sleeve, to sup ort the armature a desired distance from the block.

27. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a rotatable magnetic block, an armature for said block, said armature comprising a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal opening and being supported and held at a desired distance from the block by a sleeve running in a journal, a winding forthe block, and means to energize the Winding to attract said armature to cause the same torotate with the block.

28. In a blocking mechanism adapted to Wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, an armature for said block conforming with the circumference of the block, and normally held at a desired distance from the block, a journal bearing supporting said armature,

means to rotate the block, means to hold said armature at rest, a winding for the block, meansto energize said winding and thereby attract the armature toward the block, and means to release the holding means for the armature simultaneously with the energizing of the winding.

29. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve embodying magnetic material constituting an armature, a journal bearing for said sleeve, a longitudinal opening in said sleeve for the strip to enter, a winding for said block, and means to energize said winding and cause the sleeve to be attracted to the block and clamp the strip with the block when same enters the block.

30. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, a sectional sleeve encircling said block, a journal bearing for said sectional sleeve, said sectional sleeve also embodying magneticmaterial constituting an armature, means to hold the sleeve out of engagement with the circumference of the block, a winding for the block, and means to energize the winding and attract sections of the sectional sleeve to the circumference of the block to thereby attach the strip to the block when same comes from} the mill.

31. In a blocking mechanism adapted to Wind a strip coming from-a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve also embodying magnetic material constituting an armature, and being in sections hinged together, and a journal support for said sleeve, one of the sections being rigidly connected with the rotating part of said journal bearing, the other sections being hinged to said rigidly supported section.

32. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve also embodying magnetic material constituting an armature, and being in sections hinged together, a journal support for said sleeve, one of the sections being rigidly connected with the rotating part of said journal bearing, the other sections being hinged to said rigidly supported section, the rigidly supported section being of non-magnetic material.

33. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magne ic block, a sleeve encircling said block said sleeve also embodying magnetic material constitutingan armature, a winding for the block,- means to rotate the block, means to hold the sleeve at rest when the block is so rotated, slip rings rotating with the block, conductors in contact with said slip rings, and means to close a circuit for the winding through combination of a magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve also embodying magnetic material constituting an armature, a winding for the block, means to rotate the block, means to hold the sleeve at rest when the block is so rotated, slip rings rotating with the block, conductors in contact withsaid slip rings, means to close a circuit for the winding through said slip rings to magnetize the block, and to thereby attract the sleeve to the block, and means to release the sleeve-holding means simultaneously with the closing of the circuit for thewinding.

35. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve embodying magnetic material and being formed of longitudinal sections hinged together to conform with the circumference of the block, one of said sections being rigidly supported, the other sections being supported by said rigidly supported section, a longitudinal opening in said sleeve, means to rotate the block, and means to hold the sleeve at rest in a predetermined position so that the hinged sections of the sleeve will be attracted against the topof the strip when same enters between said sections and the block, and clamp the strip to the block.

36. In a blocking mechanism adapted 'to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block and embodying magnetic material constituting an armature, said sleeve being in longitudinal sections hinged together, one of said sections being rigidly supported to a journal bearing, the other sections being hinged to said rigidly supported sections, and a spring for holding the sections away from the surface of the block.

37. In a blocking mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip'mill, the combination of a magnetic block, and a sleeve encircling said block, said sleeve also embodying magnetic material constituting an armature, and being in longitudinal sections hinged together, one of said sections being rigidly supported to a journal, the other sections being hinged to said rigidly supported section, said sections together forming a smooth surface for the strip to wind on 38. In a strip winding mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, and a sleeve encircling said block made up of sections hinged together, said sleeve also embodying magnetic material and constituting an armature adapted to be attracted by the block.

39. In a strip winding mechanism adapted to wind a strip coming from a strip mill, the combination of a magnetic block, a sleeve encircling said block made up of sections hinged together, said sleeve also embodying magnetic material and constituting an armature adapted to be attracted by the block, and a longitudinal opening in the sleeve or the strip to enter when same comes from the mill, whereby the strip is clamped between the block and said sleeve when the block is magnetized.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST SUNDH.

Witnesses:

HAROLD RONNE, ERNEST L. GALE, Jr. 

